Vision issues are safety concerns when an employee cannot see their work due to
an incorrect prescription, improper lighting, affects of dry eye or age related
factors. As an eyecare professional I have worked with prescription PPE for the
past thirty years and recommended to my clients they establish a comprehensive
vision policy for their workforce. To achieve maximum benefits in safety and
savings; your vision policy should address 5 segments:

As
safety personnel; you consider many factors to identify and correct hazards
which could increase the likelihood an employee suffers a work related injury.
Among those factors are the individual’s biomechanics, the equipment operated,
and how the job is executed. But when was the last time you considered how that
employee sees his or her work? 20/20 is just a measurement of how clear and
sharp (acuity) a letter 1 and 7/8 inch tall, projected on a surface, is viewed
at a distance of 20 feet. Vision encompasses many aspects besides acuity. Vision
includes eye teaming and focusing, color perception, ocular pressure, field of
view, internal and external ocular health. Most of us just assume we can depend
on our eyes to provide clear sharp vision. Unless our vision starts to fail us.

You
have two distinct groups of employees whose vision issues must be addressed.
First for new hires, incorporate a procedure in the hiring process in which the
prospective employee presents their current eyeglass/contact lens prescription.
The FTC mandates that eye doctors provide a copy of a patient’s eyeglass and
contact lens prescription at the completion of the vision examination (1). As
your prescription PPE professional I can advise you, based on the
prescription, if special visual considerations must be addressed.

Standard length for reading through a line bifocal is between 16 - 18 inches and
a line trifocal is set for approximate distances of 18 - 22/23 inches

Progressive bifocals, depending on the prescription strength, will function
between 16 and 24 inches

Viewing area for clear sharp vision through a line bifocal is usually between
your shoulders while a progressive bifocal area is in between your ears

To
ensure your current employee’s safety prescriptions are designed to satisfy the
specific working distances (2) related to their job; incorporate into your PPE
safety program my vision discovery tool: WIDE (3). Prescriptions which
don’t match the job’s vision demands may reduce visual accuracy by as much as
38%. Employee productivity may decline by as much as 9%. For my clients who
utilize my discovery tool WIDE, I see zero safety glass remakes (or cost) due to
an incorrect eyeglass prescription. Translated; the employee has received the
eyeglass prescription for optimum visual performance. Please understand with the
over the age 40 group possibly more than one pair of prescription glasses may be
required for an employee to execute all of their job responsibilities.

Our
eyes see very efficiently in full spectrum light such as sunlight or
incandescent lighting (4) However, when our workplace environment incorporates
what is defined as partial
spectrum lighting our effective visual performance is reduced. Gas
discharge lights or fluorescent lights are two examples of partial spectrum
lighting. The simple fact is the photoreceptive cones and rods inside our eyes
respond to full spectrum sunlight, not to partial spectrum lighting. Workplace
illumination is based on the OSHA regulation 1926.56 Illumination (5). Review
foot candle illumination in common areas, stairways, hallways, and after
individual assessments. I use a model 214 General Electric light meter to
measure the existing foot candle levels. This meter is light powered and
requires no batteries; the gauge is analogue. This meter can also measure
reflectance and transmittance of materials.

At age 20 the Photopic pupil diameter is 5 mm
the Scotopic pupil diameter is 8.0

Age
40
4mm 6.0

Age
50
3.5 5.5

Age
60
3.0 4.25

Photopic vision is the response of the eye to
radiant energy (light). More specifically, this is the response of the cones in
the eye to light. Scotopic vision is the response of the rods in the eye to
light, Scotopic vision is the reception of light that regulates the opening of
the pupil of the eye.

Dry,
red, irritated eyes; we see them everyday. From the computer user to the machine
operator and assembler; employees are seeking relief. Dry eye syndrome describes
a condition when the eye cannot produce enough tears or tears that are lacking
the proper composition. Normally healthy tears consist of three layers. The
layers are often described as an outer oily layer, middle watery layer, and an
inner mucus layer. Together the three layers are necessary for proper
lubrication of the eye. What are the causes of dry eye?

During prolonged levels of concentration the normal blink rate of 20 - 30 times
per minute drops to about 5 times . Like when you view a monitor. Environmental
factors such as exposure to debris in the work area, or outside workers open to
the wind, and effects of cold or heat (sweating). Other contributing factors
include contact with chemicals, certain prescriptions and OTC medications reduce
tear volume, and less than 6 hours of sleep. As we mature the eye’s natural
process is to produce lower levels of tear volume.

How
does a dry eye condition affect a business’s bottom line? Dry eye conditions
cause blurred vision which in turn affects productivity levels. The dry eye
employee may experience a foreign body sensation resulting in time away from
work to seek treatment from company personnel and/or medical specialist. Dry
eyes are more susceptible to infection affecting your health care treatment
costs. Treatment options for dry eye conditions can be as simple as applying
natural tears when eyes feel dry and uncomfortable. Consider adding natural tear
lubricants in the first aid stations and discussion of dry eye syndrome in your
safety training. I recommend the following over the counter natural tear
products to relieve dry eye symptoms: Refresh Tears (Allergan), Blink Tears (AMO)
, and Alaway (Bausch & Lomb) for allergy sufferers. Modifying work environment
to minimize environmental factors is helpful. Employees may seek an eye doctor
for corrective measures such as punctual plugs.

According to the US Bureau of labor statistics (6), 43.3% of today’s workforce
is over age 44. For employees over the age of 40; visual performance is in
decline. An employee over age 40 whose prescription doesn’t match their
visual task will alter their posture and the distances vital to their job in
order for them to see and complete their work. This results in the employee
potentially exposing themselves to risk. In some instances they’re getting too
close to their equipment to see their work. Prolonged upper torso bending and
head tipping adversely affecting their musculoskeletal health and causing
repetitive stress injuries in their backs, neck, or shoulders. I suggest you
consider these 6 vision issues to reduce injuries in the over age 40 group:

Presbyopia begins in mid 40’s and progresses
to a loss of accommodative function by 60.

Visual acuity is stable up to age 50 then
declines

A 60 year old receives only 1/3rd
of light to the retina compared to a 20 year old

Pupils become less reactive in low
lighting/contrast conditions

Significant Dry eye signs and symptoms are
prevalent among this age group

One in five over the age of 65 has impaired
vision of 20/60 or less in the better eye (#2)

As
of 2003(7); 32.4 million American adults wore contact lenses. Employerswho permit employees to wear contact lenses in an industrial environment
should consider these aspects. Currently only one general application OSHA
standard is in force to specifically address contact lenses worn in an
industrial environment. This rule/standard (8) recommends against contact
lens use when working with acrylonitrile, dibromo, chloropropane, ethylene
oxide, ethylene chloride, and ethylene dianiline chemicals. Your office should
review the work environments in accordance OSHA 29 CRF 1910.132 (d) to assess
the requirements for protective eyewear.(5).My recommendations is 3
factors should determine if contact lenses are inappropriate for any given area
in an industrial environment. Does this area already have a
documented history of eye injuries and thus pose a potential hazard to the
contact lens wearer? Please note: chemical splashes currently account for 20% of
eye injuries and flying debris 70% of eye injuries. Does wearing
contact lenses place the eye at greater risk of eye injury? Do
contact lenses conflict with any existing safety requirement or strategy? Be
sure to identify to both employees and visitors any areas where the use of
contact lenses is prohibited and restricted.

Whether you steer a fork lift truck, assemble parts, operate a machine, drive a
company vehicle, or use a computer; your eyes are the guiding force. As
professionals responsible for employee safety we shouldn’t take for granted
employees are seeing as well as they should.The
current OSHA 29CRF 1910.132(d) hazard assessment checklist for eye protection(5)
doesn’t address if there are unique distances for near and/or intermediate
lengths necessary for job execution. Nor is the issue of glare protection
considered. My recommendation would be to also include an assessment of
illumination requirements and safeguard measures against dry eye syndrome.
Employers who permit contact lens usage should have a clear concise contact lens
policy in force to guide their business operations and employees. First aid
responders with proper training and resources should be capable of safely
addressing contact lens issues in the event of an employee injury. An important
fact to realize is that in the next seven years the number of employees from age
55 - 64 will increase by 36%. (9) So if your vision policy addresses the 5
segments I have discussed then your employees visual performance will not
negatively impact their safety, individual achievement, physical health, or
personality. In fact; I believe just the opposite.